JULY 29, 2010

TRIBAL LAW AND ORDER ACTTAKES EFFECT—GREATER TRIBAL AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE

President Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA or Act) to address crime in tribal communities and to place a strong emphasis on decreasing violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women. The TLOA enhanced tribes’ authority to prosecute & punish criminals; expanded efforts to recruit, train and keep Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal police officers; and provided BIA and Tribal police officers with greater access to criminal information sharing databases. It also set new guidelines for handling sexual assault & domestic violence crimes and encouraged development of more effective prevention programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse among at-risk youth. In 2013, the Justice Department released its 1st report of statistics under the Act covering 2011 & 2012. The report showed a 54% increase in prosecutions in 2012 as compared to 2008, though prosecutions declined in 60% of reported crimes due to lack of evidence.

Sources:

“Tribal Justice and Safety, Tribal Law and Order Act,” U.S. Department of Justice.  Retrieved 10/9/2023,    Tribal Justice and Safety | Tribal Law and Order Act

Wikipedia

Seal:  Great Seal of the United States.  Public Domain.